Oscar The 79 1000

So, Oscar is a 79 1000 he has had 16 previouse owners, one of which was my friend lozzi, she bought him to learn to drive in. Her boyfriend at the time decide to strip him to a bare shell as he had a minor oil leak (like you do!)

2.5 years passed Oscar stayed dry stored in a rented garage.

My family then bought my youngest brother Dom (Deebo on here) Oscar for his 18th as he really wanted a mini for his first car.

He had all the will in the world but at 18, and having moved the car to our sisters garage which was still to far for Deebo to get to, Oscar sat idle, and Deebo began to sell of parts he had and Oscar had come with in order to fund his first car and his driving leasons (cant blame him can you)

Fast forward to this year, Oscar has been in dry storage for 7.5/8years now. Iv sold all my Modified jap cars and bought a house, but as im sure as most car enthusiasts know the itch doesnt go away. I convince Deebo to sell me Oscar as he had toyed with selling him alot of times and he wants to get on to the property ladder so has no funds for a mini build.

I have owned 3 mini's before Oscar before my jap car days. So im very used to them to drive and mod. So without further ado i introduce Oscar the 79 mini 1000 😎

In his glory days

and as he sits now 7.5/8years later 😔

So poor old Oscar has basically lived in a garage aka dumping ground for the last 5years.

I am now building a set of doors to get him moved into my garage and get him on his way again. All thats left of him is some tatty gtb's and a shell with a rear subframe 😬

I have already begun to collect parts though! I have a freshly sandblasted and primed front sub, 2x998's one will be built into a fast road engine to get him going again the other sold, a 1275 block on its way this will be built into a 1380 k1200 16v engine for his main setup in a few years. And a load of other random bits, shafts, rack, sterring column etc.

So finally Oscar moved to my garage from my sisters around 3 months ago. prior to which we had been finishing the house and getting married and doing all the grown up things that mean you don't have time for your mini.

But as most of that is now done and we have decided to move next year instead of doing anymore to the house...........may swell play with the mini!

the car is a more or less bare shell, the rear subframe was still on, petrol tank was in and glass and lights but that's about it,

first off the manky rear subframe needed to come off,

then I started on the front, this was damaged when he was originally moved to my sisters but Deebo (my younger brother and last owner) had always intended to have a removable front and Im planning the same.

surprising just how easy cutting the front of was, just ned to drill all the spot welds out to take the remainder of the panels off.

now heres a question, before deebo got the car, it had the bulk head sanded and no paint put back on, the car was then some what forgotten about and so now I want to know if the bulk head needs replacing or can I save it? its fairly pitted but this was a quick 2 min clean with a wire cup in a battery drill,

the cross member looks the same, now if it needs to come out so be it but its all solid with no holes, just pitted from years of surface rust, so id rather not cut out metal that can be kept as I just making more work for myself, but I'm no expert on panels,

Looks like an interesting project! I was initially looking at a BMW K conversion but the costs are prohibitive and there are a lot of things that need working out to get it to fit and work. Sorting out a standard performance A series is bad enough!

With the rust on the bulkhead I guess it depends on the finish you are after? It looks structurally sound but is obviously an area you see with the bonnet up (unless you put the later style rover bulkhead sound proofing there).

I think I would probably replace it if it were me as I would always have the nagging doubt that it would come back through the paint or that some areas were worse than others and as such the panel integrity was compramised.

If you don't make holes, the bulkhead is fine. Remove as much rust as possible with either a cup brush in the angle grinder or maybe one of those modern abrasive flap wheels. Then use a good rust killer, then prime and paint as usual. Engine bay finish is really not that important as it's mostly covered and was always very poor from day one!

I'm not a fan of removable fronts at all, but I suppose removing it all gives you good access to the bulkhead, cross member and toe board.

What's the rear subframe actually like? If it's not holed, have it blasted and paint it. The originals are far superior to anything remade today, even heritage ones are suspiciously 'lightweight' compared to a good original one, in my experience.

@Robj2502 the bmw k is kind of an end goal, but i do know what you mean i priced up a k build, and an 8 port and both become insanely costly to be fair. I may well not bother after running a 5 port 1340 in it for a bit, as thats what will go in aftet the 998 (if it even makes it in lol i may just build the 1340). I had a 1330 years ago and it was torquey as hell.

@Boycie funnily enough iv just bought a load of grinder attachments so hopefully the bulk head can be saved.
The rear subframe isnt actualy that bad but allthe top plates are rusted and seperating, i could just cut them of and weld new tops on as iv seen a few people seem to do this with rear subframes?

Hopefully ill get some time in the garage this week, work has been a bit mental (im a sparky and this time of year is mad! Busy) plus me and the wife are off on hols for a week. So as always life slows down the progress.

Well just before christmas i sheeted off the front of the garage, and decided with the few weeks off over xmas i had id try and get a few days in on the car.

So my brother Deebo (Dom) came over to help play about, we got the scuttle panel off to give is a better go at cleaning the bulk head, and it highlighted more rust.........shocker!

So once that was done i cracked on with the grinder and the shot blaster

A good dose of bilt hamber deox gel, then all washed off and its coated with bilt hamber zinc primer.

So next will be more front end work, and i just wanted a mini to drive after my previouse project cars in the past. Oh well got to love a project right?

We are now toying with selling the house and moving to something bigger which is handy as i need a double garage, down side is till we decide in april what we are doing im also not going to be building my workshop as planned as whats the point if im selling and leaving it behind! Joys of grown up life eh?

I know how you feel! I am also looking to move after easter and I keep telling the missus we are not moving to anywhere that doesnt have a double garage or at the very least room for a double garage. Obviously that means she keeps finding places that have a tiny or no garage........

I know how you feel! I am also looking to move after easter and I keep telling the missus we are not moving to anywhere that doesnt have a double garage or at the very least room for a double garage. Obviously that means she keeps finding places that have a tiny or no garage........

Cheers dude, took bloody ages but better than having to fit a new bulkhead,

And my mrs has realised theres no choice lol, im a sparky by trade, and we (as you are now) refurbed the whole house, i replumbed it, rewired it, plaster bits, fitted kitchen and bathrooms, tiled it etc, fitted full smart home automation, you name we have done it, BUT if we dont buy a house with a double garage im downing tools haha!! And the new house wont get a thing done to it.

Also heads up, if you mrs is like mine, dont go for a place you can build a workshop/garage, there is always a higher priority than your garage haha. Iv had 3 very extravagent holidays this year (one was a honeymoon to be fair) but wierdly we cant start the garage yet?? Be warned lol